The Scarlet Empress

“The Reigning Beauty of the Screen!”

In the eighteenth century, the German noblewoman Sophia Frederica (Marlene Dietrich) travels to the Russian court in Moscow to marry Grand Duke Peter (Sam Jaffe), heir to the throne. The match is loveless, and the court around her is ruled by Empress Elizabeth (Louise Dresser), who watches the young bride closely. Josef von Sternberg fills his frames with gargoyles, candles and enormous carved doors that make the palace feel like it is pressing in on her.